Systems and methods for heat rise compensation

ABSTRACT

A HVAC controller includes a housing and one or more heat-generating components contained within the housing. The heat-generating components cause a temperature inside the housing to exceed a temperature outside the housing. The controller includes a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature inside the housing and a controller event detector configured to detect, for each of the heat-generating components, a controller event that generates heat inside the housing. The controller further includes a temperature compensation module configured to identify a steady-state temperature gain associated with each of the detected controller events, to calculate a temperature offset using a summation of the steady-state temperature gains, and to determine the temperature of the building zone outside the housing by subtracting the temperature offset from the temperature measured inside the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/113,053 filed Feb. 6, 2015, the entirety of which isincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic controllers thatinclude an integrated temperature sensor. More specifically, the presentdisclosure relates to a controller in a heating, ventilating and airconditioning (HVAC) system that compensates for the heat generated byelectronic components within the controller which affect the temperaturemeasured by the integrated temperature sensor.

Electronic components within a zone controller (e.g., a wall-mountedthermostat) can generate heat during operation. The heat generatedwithin the zone controller may cause the temperature within the zonecontroller to be higher than the actual ambient temperature of thebuilding zone in which the controller is located. This temperaturedifference can adversely affect the performance of the building HVACsystem if left uncorrected. For example, a feedback control system usingthe measured temperature as a feedback signal may heat or cool thebuilding zone until the measured temperature reaches a temperature setpoint. Since the actual temperature of the building zone is cooler thanthe measured temperature, controlling the measured temperature to theset point can cause the actual temperature of the building zone to becooler than the set point.

Previous techniques for compensating for the heat generated within acontroller use the time that the controller (as a whole) has beenpowered on as the basis for internal heat generation. For example, U.S.Pat. No. 7,784,705 (“the '705 patent”) describes a temperaturecompensation method which calculates a corrected temperature as afunction of the time since the controller was most recently powered up.The temperature compensation techniques described in the '705 patentassume that the controller generates heat at a constant rate when it ispowered, regardless of how the controller is being used and independentof the control outputs provided by the controller.

The inventors of the present invention have recognized that thetemperature compensation techniques described in the '705 patent fail toaccount for variable levels of internal heat generation within thecontroller and do not provide the granularity or adaptability toaccurately model internal heat generation based on which components ofthe controller are currently active. It would be desirable to develop atemperature compensation technique that overcomes these and otherdisadvantages of the '705 patent.

SUMMARY

One implementation of the present disclosure is a HVAC controllerlocated within a building zone. The controller includes a housing andone or more heat-generating components contained within the housing. Theheat-generating components cause a temperature inside the housing toexceed a temperature of the building zone outside the housing. Thecontroller further includes a temperature sensor configured to measurethe temperature of the building zone inside the housing and a controllerevent detector configured to detect, for each of the heat-generatingcomponents, a controller event that generates heat inside the housing.The controller further includes a temperature compensation moduleconfigured to identify a steady-state temperature gain associated witheach of the detected controller events, to calculate a temperatureoffset using a summation of the steady-state temperature gains, and todetermine the temperature of the building zone outside the housing bysubtracting the temperature offset from the temperature measured insidethe housing.

In some embodiments, the heat-generating components include anelectronic display. The detected controller events may include anindication of whether the electronic display is currently active. Insome embodiments, the heat-generating components include a backlight forthe electronic display. The backlight may be configured to illuminate atmultiple different illumination levels. The detected controller eventsmay include an indication of a current illumination level of thebacklight. In some embodiments, the heat-generating components include aplurality of relays configured to provide a control output. The detectedcontroller events may include an indication of a which of the relays arecurrently active.

In some embodiments, the controller includes a parameter storage modulethat stores the steady-state temperature gains associated with theheat-generating components. Each of the steady-state temperature gainsmay indicate an increase in temperature inside the housing when theassociated heat-generating component is active relative to a temperatureinside the housing when the associated heat-generating component isinactive.

In some embodiments, the temperature compensation module includes atemperature compensation filter that uses a first order low passtransfer function to calculate the temperature offset. The summation ofthe steady-state temperature gains may be provided as an input to thetemperature compensation filter. In some embodiments, the temperaturecompensation filter uses an empirically-determined correction factor tocalculate the temperature offset. The correction factor may be dependentupon one or more heat transfer properties of the controller. In someembodiments, the temperature compensation filter is a discrete-timedigital filter that outputs the temperature offset as a function of aprevious temperature offset and the steady-state temperature gainsassociated with detected controller events that occur after the previoustemperature offset is calculated.

In some embodiments, the temperature compensation module is configuredto store the temperature offset upon powering off the controller and usethe stored temperature offset as the previous temperature offset in thetemperature compensation filter when the controller is powered on. Insome embodiments, upon powering on the controller, the temperaturecompensation module is configured to determine whether the controllerhas been powered off for a time period exceeding a threshold, use thestored temperature offset as the previous temperature offset in thetemperature compensation filter if the controller has been powered offfor a time period that does not exceed the threshold, and reset theprevious temperature offset to zero if the controller has been poweredoff for a time period that exceeds the threshold.

In some embodiments, the controller includes a humidity sensorconfigured to measure a relative humidity of the building zone insidethe housing. The controller may include a humidity compensation moduleconfigured to calculate a dew point of air inside the housing using therelative humidity inside the housing. The humidity compensation modulemay be configured to use the calculated dew point and the calculatedtemperature of the building zone outside the housing to determine arelative humidity of the building zone outside the housing.

In some embodiments, the humidity compensation module receives thetemperature of the building zone measured inside the housing from thetemperature compensation module and calculates the dew point of the airinside the housing using the relative humidity of the building zoneinside the housing and temperature of the building zone measured insidethe housing. In other embodiments, the humidity compensation modulereceives the temperature offset calculated by the temperaturecompensation module, adds the temperature offset to the calculatedtemperature of the building zone outside the housing to estimate thetemperature of the building zone inside the housing, and calculates thedew point of the air inside the housing using the relative humidity ofthe building zone inside the housing and estimated temperature of thebuilding zone inside the housing.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a controller for aHVAC system. The controller includes a communications interface thatreceives, from an electronic device located within a building zone, atemperature measured within a housing of the electronic device. Themeasured temperature is greater than an actual ambient temperature ofthe building zone due to heat-generating components within the housingof the electronic device. The controller includes an event detectorconfigured to detect, for each of the heat-generating components, anevent that generates heat inside the housing of the electronic device.The controller includes a temperature compensation module configured toidentify a steady-state temperature gain associated with each of thedetected events. The temperature compensation module calculates atemperature offset using a summation of the steady-state temperaturegains and determines the temperature of the building zone outside thehousing by subtracting the temperature offset from the temperaturemeasured inside the housing.

In some embodiments, the heat-generating components include at least oneof an electronic display, a backlight for the electronic display, and aplurality of relays configured to provide an output from the electronicdevice. In some embodiments, the detected controller events include atleast one of indication of whether the electronic display is currentlyactive, a current illumination level of the backlight, and an indicationof a which of the relays are currently active.

In some embodiments, each of the steady-state temperature gainsindicates an increase in temperature inside the housing when theassociated heat-generating component is active relative to a temperatureinside the housing when the associated heat-generating component isinactive.

In some embodiments, the temperature compensation module includes atemperature compensation filter that uses a first order low passtransfer function to calculate the temperature offset. The summation ofthe steady-state temperature gains may be provided as an input to thetemperature compensation filter.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a HVAC controllerlocated within a building zone. The controller includes a housing andone or more heat-generating components contained within the housing. Theheat-generating components cause a relative humidity inside the housingto be less than a relative humidity of the building zone outside thehousing. The controller further includes a humidity sensor configured tomeasure the relative humidity of the building zone inside the housingand a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of thebuilding zone inside the housing. The controller includes a humiditycompensation module configured to calculated a dew point of the buildingzone inside the housing using the relative humidity measured inside thehousing and the temperature measured inside the housing. The humiditycompensation module is further configured to identify a temperature ofthe building zone outside the housing and to determine a relativehumidity of the building zone outside the housing using the identifiedtemperature of the building zone outside the housing and the calculateddew point.

In some embodiments, the controller includes a controller event detectorconfigured to detect, for each of the heat-generating components, acontroller event that generates heat inside the housing. The controllermay further include a temperature compensation module configured toidentify a steady-state temperature gain associated with each of thedetected controller events, to calculate a temperature offset using asummation of the steady-state temperature gains, and to determine thetemperature of the building zone outside the housing by subtracting thetemperature offset from the temperature measured inside the housing.

In some embodiments, the temperature compensation module includes atemperature compensation filter that uses a first order low passtransfer function to calculate the temperature offset. The summation ofthe steady-state temperature gains may be provided as an input to thetemperature compensation filter

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, inventive features, and advantages of the devices and/orprocesses described herein, as defined solely by the claims, will becomeapparent in the detailed description set forth herein and taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a building equipped with a HVAC system andincluding zone controllers in each of the building zones, according toan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of the HVAC system ofFIG. 1 in greater detail, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one of the zone controllers ofFIG. 1 in greater detail, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a temperature compensation moduleof the zone controller of FIG. 3 in greater detail, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 5A-5B are block diagrams illustrating a humidity compensationmodule of the zone controller of FIG. 3 in greater detail, according toan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of operations for compensating for the heatgenerated within a HVAC controller, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of operations for determining the relativehumidity of a building zone using a compensated zone temperaturedetermined according to the process of FIG. 6, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to the FIGURES, systems and methods for heat risecompensation are shown, according to various exemplary embodiments. Thesystems and methods described herein may be used to compensate for theheat generated within a housing of an electronic device which causes thetemperature measured by the electronic device to be greater than theactual ambient temperature of the space in which the electronic deviceis located. For example, the heat compensation techniques can be used inan electronic controller that includes one or more temperature sensorswhich can be affected by the internal heating of components within theelectronic controller. Such electronic controllers can be used tocontrol a variety of systems (e.g., HVAC systems, security systems,elevator systems, lighting systems, water systems, etc.).

Some embodiments generally relate to systems and methods forautomatically compensating for the heat generated by an electroniccontroller in a HVAC system. A zone controller is used as an example inthe various figures. However, it should be recognized that the presystems and methods for automatically compensating for the heat can beapplied to a wide variety of electronic controllers and other electronicdevices that include an integrated temperature sensor within a housingof the device.

In some embodiments, a building HVAC system includes a zone controller(e.g., a wall-mounted thermostat and/or humidistat) configured tomonitor and control the environmental conditions within a zone of thebuilding. The electronic components of the zone controller generate heatduring operation. The heat generated within the zone controller maycause the temperature within the zone controller to be higher than theactual ambient temperatures of the building zone. This temperaturedifference can adversely affect the performance of the building HVACsystem if left uncorrected. For example, a feedback control system usingthe measured temperature as a feedback signal may heat or cool thebuilding zone until the measured temperature reaches a temperature setpoint. Since the actual temperature of the building zone is cooler thanthe measured temperature, controlling the measured temperature to theset point can cause the actual temperature of the building zone to becooler than the set point.

Some embodiments provide an event-driven heat rise compensation routinethat includes identifying one or more heat-generating components withinthe HVAC controller and detecting controller events associated with theheat-generating components. Heat-generating components may include, forexample, a power supply, a LCD display, a backlight for the LCD display,control outputs such as relays and triacs, a processor, and/or any othercomponent that generates heat within the HVAC controller when thecomponent is used. Controller events associated with the heat-generatingcomponents may include, for example, activating the LCD display,illuminating the backlight, providing control outputs via the relays andtriacs, activating the power supply, using the processor, and/or anyother action or event that generates heat within the HVAC controller.

Each of the detected controller events may be associated with asteady-state temperature gain. For example, the steady-state temperaturegains may include a temperature gain associated with activating the LCDdisplay, a temperature gain associated with illuminating the backlightat full brightness or any of the intermediate brightness levels, atemperature gain associated with activating each of the relays andtriacs, and/or any other temperature gains that correspond to any of thedetectable controller events. Each temperature gain may correspond to atemperature increase resulting from the associated controller event. TheHVAC controller may calculate a temperature offset using a summation ofthe temperature gains associated with the detected controller events. Insome embodiments, calculating the temperature offset includes using afirst order low pass filter. The summation of the temperature gains maybe provided as an input to the filter and used to determine thetemperature offset resulting from the detected controller events.

Advantageously, some embodiments of the event-driven compensationroutine described herein allows each controller event to beindependently included or not included in the in the heat risecalculation based on whether the controller event is detected. Usingcontroller events in this manner advantageously allows the HVACcontroller to calculate the temperature offset with greater granularityand accuracy relative to traditional heat rise calculations that onlyconsider the amount of time since the controller (as a whole) waspowered on.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a building 10 is shown.Building 10 is serviced by HVAC system 20. HVAC system 20 is shown toinclude a chiller 22, a boiler 24, and a rooftop air handling unit (AHU)26. HVAC system 20 uses a fluid circulation system to provide heatingand/or cooling for building 10. The circulated fluid (e.g., water,glycol, etc.) may be cooled in chiller 22 or heated in boiler 24,depending on whether cooling or heating is required. Boiler 24 may addheat to the circulated fluid, for example, by burning a combustiblematerial (e.g., natural gas). Chiller 22 may place the circulated fluidin a heat exchange relationship with another fluid (e.g., a refrigerant)in a heat exchanger (e.g., an evaporator) to absorb heat from thecirculated fluid. The circulated fluid from chiller 22 or boiler 24 maybe transported to AHU 26 via piping 28. AHU 26 may place the circulatedfluid in a heat exchange relationship with an airflow passing throughAHU 26 (e.g., via one or more stages of cooling coils and/or heatingcoils). The airflow may be outside air, return air from within building10, or a combination of both. AHU 26 may transfer heat between theairflow and the circulated fluid to provide heating or cooling for theairflow. For example, AHU 26 may include one or more fans or blowersconfigured to pass the airflow over or through a heat exchangercontaining the circulated fluid. The circulated fluid may then return tochiller 22 or boiler 24 via piping 30.

The airflow supplied by AHU 26 (i.e., the supply airflow) can bedelivered to building 10 via an air distribution system including airsupply ducts 38 and may return to AHU 26 from building 10 via air returnducts 40. In some embodiments, building 10 includes a number (e.g, twoor more) variable air volume (VAV) units 27 a-27 c. For example, HVACsystem 20 is shown to include a first VAV unit 27 a in a first zone 12 aof building 10, a second VAV unit 27 b in a second zone 12 b of building10, and a third VAV unit 27 c in a third zone 12 c of building 10. VAVunits 27 a-27 c may include dampers or other flow control elements whichcan be operated to control an amount of the supply airflow provided toeach of building zones 12 a-12 c, respectively. In other embodiments,AHU 26 delivers the supply airflow into building zones 12 a-12 c (e.g.,via supply ducts 38) without requiring intermediate flow controlelements. In FIG. 1, building 10 is shown to include three buildingzones 12 a-12 c; however, it should be understood that building 10 mayinclude any number of discrete or interconnected zones in various otherimplementations.

AHU 26 may include one or more sensors (e.g., temperature sensors,pressure sensors, humidity sensors, etc.) configured to measureattributes of the supply airflow. In some embodiments, AHU 26 includesone or more humidity control devices (e.g., humidifiers, dehumidifiers,desiccant wheels, etc.) configured to control a humidity level of thesupply airflow. The humidity control devices may add or remove humidityto the supply airflow to achieve set point humidity conditions withinbuilding zones 12 a-12 c.

AHU 26 may receive input from sensors and/or zone controllers 14 a-14 clocated within building zones 12 a-12 c For example, HVAC system 20 isshown to include a first zone controller 14 a located within buildingzone 12 a, a second zone controller 14 b located within building zone 12b, and a third zone controller 14 c located within building zone. Insome embodiments, zone controllers 14 a-14 c are wall-mounted controlunits configured to measure and/or control a variable state or condition(e.g., temperature, humidity, air pressure, etc.) within building zones12 a-12 c. For example, zone controllers 14 a-14 c may be wall-mountedthermostats and/or humidistats configured to measure and control thetemperature and/or humidity of building zones 12 a-12 c. HVAC system 20may adjust the flow rate, temperature, humidity, or other attributes ofthe supply airflow through AHU 26 to achieve the set point conditionsfor building zones 12 a-12 c.

Zone controllers 14 a-14 c may include a housing containing variouselectronic devices. For example, zone controllers 14 a-14 c may includeintegrated sensors (e.g., temperature sensors, humidity sensors,lighting sensors, etc.) for monitoring environmental conditions withinbuilding zones 12 a-12 c. Zone controllers 14 a-14 c may includecommunications electronics configured to facilitate electronic datacommunications with various other components of HVAC system 20 (e.g., anAHU controller, a supervisory controller, etc.). In some embodiments,zone controllers 14 a-14 c include a user interface (e.g., a LCDdisplay, a control panel, etc.) configured to facilitate communicationsbetween zone controllers 14 a-14 c and a user. For example, the userinterface may display current environmental conditions within thebuilding zone via an electronic display (e.g., a graphical display, analpha-numeric display, etc.) and may include a user input device (e.g.,a keypad, buttons, a touch-sensitive display, etc.) for receiving userinput. A user may interact with zone controllers 14 a-14 c via the userinterface to view or adjust the control set points for building zones 12a-12 c.

The electronic components of zone controllers 14 a-14 c can generateheat during operation. For example, heat may be generated internallywithin zone controllers 14 a-14 c by an internal power supply, a CPU, anelectronic display, and/or control outputs such as relays and triacsturning on/off. The heat generated within zone controllers 14 a-14 c cancause the temperatures within zone controllers 14 a-14 c to be higherthan the actual ambient temperatures of building zones 12 a-12 c. Thistemperature difference can adversely affect the performance of HVACsystem 20 if left uncorrected. For example, an integrated temperaturesensor within one of zone controllers 14 a-14 c can measure atemperature that is higher than the actual temperature of thecorresponding building zone. A feedback control system using themeasured temperature as a feedback signal can heat or cool the buildingzone until the measured temperature reaches a temperature set point.Since the actual temperature of the building zone is cooler than themeasured temperature, controlling the measured temperature to the setpoint can cause the actual temperature of the building zone to be coolerthan the set point. Advantageously, zone controllers 14 a-14 c can beconfigured to compensate for such internal heat generation, as describedin greater detail with reference to FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram illustrating AHU 26 in greaterdetail is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. AHU 26 is shownas an economizer-type air handling unit. Economizer-type air handlingunits vary the amount of outside air and return air used by the airhandling unit for heating or cooling. For example, AHU 26 may receivereturn air 42 from building zone 12 (e.g., one of building zones 12 a-12c) via return air duct 40 and may deliver supply air 44 to building zone12 via supply air duct 38. In some embodiments, AHU 26 is a rooftop unitand may be located on the roof of building 10 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1)or otherwise positioned to receive return air 42 and outside air 46. AHU26 may be configured to operate exhaust air damper 50, mixing damper 52,and outside air damper 54 to control an amount of outside air 46 andreturn air 42 that combine to form supply air 44. Any return air 42 thatdoes not pass through mixing damper 52 may be exhausted from AHU 26through exhaust damper 50 as exhaust air 48.

Each of dampers 50-54 may be operated by an actuator. As shown in FIG.2, exhaust air damper 50 is operated by actuator 60, mixing damper 52 isoperated by actuator 62, and outside air damper 54 is operated byactuator 64. Actuators 60-64 may communicate with an AHU controller 70via a communications link 80. Actuators 60-64 may receive controlsignals from AHU controller 70 and may provide feedback signals to AHUcontroller 70. Feedback signals may include, for example, an indicationof a current actuator or damper position, an amount of torque or forceexerted by the actuator, diagnostic information (e.g., results ofdiagnostic tests performed by actuators 60-64), status information,commissioning information, configuration settings, calibration data,and/or other types of information or data that may be collected, stored,or used by actuators 60-64. AHU controller 70 may be an economizercontroller configured to use one or more control algorithms (e.g.,state-based algorithms, extremum-seeking control algorithms, PID controlalgorithms, model predictive control algorithms, feedback controlalgorithms, etc.) to control actuators 60-64.

Still referring to FIG. 2, AHU 26 is shown to include a cooling coil 82,a heating coil 84, and a fan 86 positioned within supply air duct 38. Insome embodiments, AHU 26 also includes one or more humidity controldevices (e.g., humidifiers, dehumidifiers, desiccant wheels, etc.)positioned within supply air duct 38. Fan 86 may be configured to forcesupply air 44 through cooling coil 82, heating coil 84, and/or thehumidity control devices and provide supply air 44 to building zone 12.AHU controller 70 may communicate with fan 86 via communications link 88to control a flow rate of supply air 44. In some embodiments, AHUcontroller 70 controls an amount of heating or cooling applied to supplyair 44 by modulating a speed of fan 86. Cooling coil 82 may receive achilled fluid from chiller 22 via piping 28 and may return the chilledfluid to chiller 22 via piping 30. Valve 94 may be positioned alongpiping 28 or piping 30 to control an amount of the chilled fluidprovided to cooling coil 82. In some embodiments, cooling coil 82includes multiple stages of cooling coils that can be independentlyactivated and deactivated (e.g., by AHU controller 70) to modulate anamount of cooling applied to supply air 44. Heating coil 84 may receivea heated fluid from boiler 24 via piping 28 and may return the heatedfluid to boiler 24 via piping 30. Valve 96 may be positioned alongpiping 28 or piping 30 to control an amount of the heated fluid providedto heating coil 84. In some embodiments, heating coil 84 includesmultiple stages of heating coils that can be independently activated anddeactivated to modulate an amount of heating applied to supply air 44.

Each of valves 94-96 may be controlled by an actuator. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 2, valve 94 is controlled by actuator 97 and valve 96 iscontrolled by actuator 99. Actuators 97-99 may communicate with AHUcontroller 70 via communications links 90-92. Actuators 97-99 mayreceive control signals from AHU controller 70 and may provide feedbacksignals to controller 70. AHU controller 70 may receive a measurement ofthe supply air temperature from a temperature sensor 45 positioned insupply air duct 38 (e.g., downstream of cooling coil 82 and/or heatingcoil 84). In some embodiments, AHU controller 70 also receives ameasurement of the supply air humidity from a humidity sensor positionedin supply air duct 38.

In some embodiments, AHU controller 70 operates valves 94-96 viaactuators 97-99 to modulate an amount of heating or cooling provided tosupply air 44 (e.g., to achieve a set point temperature for supply air44 or to maintain the temperature of supply air 102 within a set pointtemperature range). The positions of valves 97-99 affect the amount ofheating or cooling provided to supply air 44 by cooling coil 82 orheating coil 84 and may correlate with the amount of energy consumed toachieve a desired supply air temperature. AHU 70 may control thetemperature of supply air 44 and/or building zone 12 by activating ordeactivating coils 82-84, adjusting a speed of fan 86, or a combinationof both.

AHU controller 70 may communicate with a zone controller 14 (e.g., oneof zone controllers 14 a-14 c) located within building zone 12 via acommunications link 93. Zone controller 14 may include an integratedtemperature sensor, humidity sensor, lighting sensor, pressure sensor,and/or any other type of sensor configured to measure a variable stateor condition (e.g., temperature, humidity, air pressure, lighting, etc.)within building zone 12. Advantageously, zone controller 14 may beconfigured to compensate for an internal heat generation within zonecontroller 14 and may adjust the measured temperature accordingly (e.g.,by subtracting a calculated temperature offset from the measuredtemperature). The temperature adjustment performed by zone controller 14is described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 3. Zone controller14 may use the adjusted zone temperature in conjunction with an inputfrom an integrated humidity sensor to calculate an adjusted relativehumidity for building zone 12.

Zone controller 14 may include a user interface through which a user canview and/or adjust various control set points for building zone 12(e.g., a temperature set point, a humidity set point, etc.). Zonecontroller 14 may use any of a variety of control algorithms (e.g.,state-based algorithms, extremum-seeking control algorithms, PID controlalgorithms, model predictive control algorithms, feedback controlalgorithms, etc.) to determine appropriate control outputs for thecontrollable devices of HVAC system 20 (e.g., chiller 22, boiler 24,valves 94-96, actuators 60-64, actuators 97-99, cooling coil 82, heatingcoil 84, etc.) as a function of the adjusted zone conditions and/or thecontrol set points. In other embodiments, zone controller 14 reports theadjusted zone conditions and the control set points to AHU controller 70and AHU control 70 determines the appropriate control outputs for thecontrollable devices of HVAC system 20. In various embodiments, AHUcontroller 70 and zone controller 14 may be separate (as shown in FIG.2) or integrated (e.g., for single-zone implementations such as ahousehold thermostat). In an integrated implementation, AHU controller70 may be a software module configured for execution by a processor ofzone controller 14.

Still referring to FIG. 2, HVAC system 20 is shown to include asupervisory controller 72 and a client device 74. Supervisory controller72 may include one or more computer systems (e.g., servers, BAScontrollers, etc.) that serve as system level controllers, applicationor data servers, head nodes, master controllers, or field controllersfor HVAC system 20. Supervisory controller 72 may communicate withmultiple downstream building systems or subsystems (e.g., an HVACsystem, a security system, etc.) via a communications link 76 accordingto like or disparate protocols (e.g., LON, BACnet, etc.).

In some embodiments, AHU controller 70 receives information (e.g.,commands, set points, operating boundaries, etc.) from supervisorycontroller 72. For example, supervisory controller 72 may provide AHUcontroller 70 with a high fan speed limit and a low fan speed limit. Alow limit may avoid frequent component and power taxing fan start-upswhile a high limit may avoid operation near the mechanical or thermallimits of the fan system. In various embodiments, AHU controller 70 andsupervisory controller 72 may be separate (as shown in FIG. 2) orintegrated. In an integrated implementation, AHU controller 70 may be asoftware module configured for execution by a processor of supervisorycontroller 72.

Client device 74 may include one or more human-machine interfaces orclient interfaces (e.g., graphical user interfaces, reportinginterfaces, text-based computer interfaces, client-facing web services,web servers that provide pages to web clients, etc.) for controlling,viewing, or otherwise interacting with HVAC system 20, its subsystems,and/or devices. Client device 74 may be a computer workstation, a clientterminal, a remote or local interface, or any other type of userinterface device. Client device 74 may be a stationary terminal or amobile device. For example, client device 74 may be a desktop computer,a computer server with a user interface, a laptop computer, a tablet, asmartphone, a PDA, or any other type of mobile or non-mobile device.Client device 74 may communicate with supervisory controller 72, AHUcontroller 70, and/or zone controller 14 via communications link 78.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram illustrating zone controller 14in greater detail is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. Zonecontroller 14 may be located within building zone 12 and may beconfigured to measure one or more variable states or conditions (i.e.,environmental conditions) within building zone 12. For example, zonecontroller 14 is shown to include a temperature sensor 102, a humiditysensor 104, and a lighting sensor 106 respectively configured to measuretemperature, relative humidity, and lighting. Zone controller 14 canprocess the inputs provided by sensors 102-106 to determine appropriatecontrol actions for HVAC system 20. For example, zone controller 14 candetermine whether to activate or deactivate fan 86, cooling coil 84,heating coil 84, and/or other devices of HVAC system 20 (e.g.,actuators, valves, etc.) that can be operated to affect the variablestates or conditions measured by sensors 102-106. Zone controller 14 cangenerate control signals for HVAC system 20 based on the determinedcontrol actions and can output the generated control signals to HVACsystem 20 via communications interface 132.

Zone controller 14 is shown to include a variety of electroniccomponents contained within a housing 100. For example, zone controller14 is shown to include several sensors (i.e., temperature sensor 102,humidity sensor 104, lighting sensor 106), a processing circuit 108,control outputs 126, a power supply 134, a communications interface 132,and user interface components (e.g., a LCD display 136, a backlight 136for LCD display 138, and a user input interface 140). In variousembodiments, power supply 134 can be an internal power supply (e.g.,batteries) or an interface for receiving power from an external powersource. LCD display 138 can be an electronic display (e.g., a graphicaldisplay, an alpha-numeric display, etc.) configured to presentinformation to a user. LCD display 138 may be used to display, forexample, the current environmental conditions within building zone 12and/or the controller set points. Backlight 136 can provide backlightingfor LCD display 138 and may be illuminated at various levels ofbrightness. User input interface 140 can include any of a variety of auser input devices (e.g., a keypad, buttons, a touch-sensitive display,etc.) for receiving user input. User input interface 140 can facilitateuser interaction with zone controller 14 and can allow a user to adjustthe controller set points.

Control outputs 126 are shown to include relays 128 and triacs 130.Control outputs 126 may be selectively activated or deactivated byprocessing circuit 108 (e.g., by control output module 124) to provide acontrol signal to communications interface 132. Communications interface132 may include wired or wireless interfaces (e.g., jacks, antennas,transmitters, receivers, transceivers, wire terminals, etc.) forconducting electronic data communications with HVAC system 20 or otherexternal systems or devices. Such communications can be direct (e.g.,local wired or wireless communications) or via a communications network(e.g., a WAN, the Internet, a cellular network, etc.). For example,communications interface 132 can include an Ethernet card and port forsending and receiving data via an Ethernet-based communications link ornetwork. In another example, communications interface 132 may include aWiFi transceiver or a cellular or mobile phone communicationstransceiver for communicating via a wireless communications network.Communications interface 132 can be communicably connected to processingcircuit 108 such that processing circuit 108 and the various componentsthereof can send and receive data via communications interface 132.

Processing circuit 108 is shown to include a processor 110 and memory112. Processor 110 can be implemented as a general purpose processor, anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one or more fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), a group of processing components, orother suitable electronic processing components. Memory 112 (e.g.,memory, memory unit, storage device, etc.) can include one or moredevices (e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash memory, hard disk storage, etc.) forstoring data and/or computer code for completing or facilitating thevarious processes, layers and modules described herein. Memory 112 canbe or include volatile memory or non-volatile memory. Memory 112 caninclude database components, object code components, script components,or any other type of information structure for supporting the variousactivities and information structures described in the presentapplication. According to an exemplary embodiment, memory 112 iscommunicably connected to processor 110 via processing circuit 108 andincludes computer code for executing (e.g., by processing circuit 108and/or processor 110) one or more processes described herein.

Some of components 102-140 may generate heat when they are used, whichcan cause the temperature within housing 100 (i.e., the temperaturemeasured by temperature sensor 102) to be greater than the actualambient temperature of building zone 12. The higher temperature withinhousing 100 may result in a lower relative humidity reading measured byhumidity sensor 104 (relative to actual ambient conditions) due to theincreased moisture capacity of the warmer air within housing 100.

Zone controller 14 can perform an event-driven compensation routine toautomatically adjust the measured temperature and/or the measuredrelative humidity to more accurately reflect the actual ambientconditions within building zone 12 in some embodiments. The event-drivencompensation routine includes detecting “controller events” (i.e.,particular actions performed by zone controller 14) that generate heatwithin housing 100 in some embodiments. Controller events can include,for example, activating LCD display 138, illuminating backlight 136,providing control outputs via relays 128 and triacs 130, activatingpower supply 134, using processor 108, and/or any other action or eventthat generates heat within housing 100. Zone controller 14 can multiplyeach detected controller event by a steady state temperature gainassociated with the controller event in some embodiments. Zonecontroller 14 can use a summation of the controller event products as aninput to a temperature compensation filter in some embodiments. Thetemperature compensation filter (described in greater detail withreference to FIG. 4) outputs a temperature offset value, which can besubtracted from the temperature measured by temperature sensor 102 todetermine the actual ambient temperature of building zone 12 in someembodiments.

Advantageously, the event-driven compensation routine allows zonecontroller 14 to determine a temperature offset based on the particularcontroller events that generate heat within housing 100. Each controllerevent can be independently included or not included in the event-drivencompensation routine based on whether the controller event is detected.For example, the controller events may be a function of the brightnessof backlight 136, whether LCD display is currently active, and/orwhether a control signal is currently being provided to HVAC system 20via control outputs 126 and communications interface 132. Usingcontroller events in this manner advantageously allows zone controller14 to calculate the temperature offset with greater granularity andaccuracy relative to traditional heat rise calculations that onlyconsider the amount of time since the controller (as a whole) waspowered on.

Still referring to FIG. 3, memory 112 is shown to include a sensor inputmodule 114 (i.e., a sensor input handler). Sensor input module 114 mayreceive and store inputs (i.e., data points) from temperature sensor102, humidity sensor 104, lighting sensor 106, and/or any other sensoror measurement device. In some embodiments, sensor input module 114converts the input data from each of sensors 102-106 into units thatquantify the variable measured by the corresponding sensor. For example,temperature sensor 102 may be a thermistor or thermocouple that providessensor input module 114 with a voltage representing a measuredtemperature. Sensor input module 114 may convert the voltage into unitsof temperature using a conversion chart or formula. Sensor input module114 may perform a similar conversion procedure (if necessary) for thedata from each of sensors 102-106.

In some embodiments, sensor input module 114 pre-filters the data (e.g.,performs data scrubbing) to discard or format bad data in someembodiments. Sensor input module 114 can conduct one or more checks todetermine whether the data is reliable, whether the data is in thecorrect format, whether the data is or includes a statistical outlier,whether the data is distorted or “not a number” (NaN), and/or whetherthe sensor or communication channel for a set of data has become stuckat some value in some embodiments. Sensor input module 114 can determinewhether a data point should be discarded and may interpolate betweendata points to fill in missing or discarded data in some embodiments.

Sensor input module 114 can store the data points with attributes thatdescribe the type of data (e.g., temperature, pressure, humidity, etc.),the unit of measure (e.g., degrees Fahrenheit, degrees Celsius, etc.),the data source (e.g., a particular sensor or building zone), a time atwhich the data point is measured, and/or other attributes that describethe data points or the physical state or condition represented by thedata points in some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 3, sensor input module114 may provide the data points (e.g., the measured temperature and themeasured humidity) to temperature compensation module 116 and humiditycompensation module 120 for use in the event-driven compensationroutine.

Still referring to FIG. 3, memory 112 is shown to include a controllerevent detector 118 (i.e., an event detection module). Controller eventdetector can be configured to detect “controller events” within zonecontroller 14 in some embodiments. Controller events can include anyevent or action performed by zone controller 14 that generates heatwithin housing 100. For example, controller events can includeactivating or deactivating relays 128 or triacs 130, providing a controlsignal via communications interface 132, illuminating backlight 136,providing a display via LCD display 138, using power supply 134, or anyother event or action that generates heat within housing 100.

In some embodiments, controller event detector 118 detects a state orcondition of a heat-generating component of zone controller 14. Forexample, controller event detector 118 can determine whether each ofrelays 128 and triacs 130 is currently active or inactive (i.e., thecontrol output states). Controller event detector 118 can determinewhether LCD display 138 is currently providing a display and candetermine whether backlight 136 is currently on or off in someembodiments. For embodiments in which backlight 136 can be illuminatedat multiple brightness levels, controller event detector 118 maydetermine the backlight level (i.e., the brightness) of backlight 136.As shown in FIG. 3, controller event detector 118 may provide thedetected controller events to temperature compensation module 116 foruse in the event-driven compensation routine.

Still referring to FIG. 3, memory 112 is shown to include a parameterstorage module 122 (i.e., a parameters database). Parameter storagemodule 122 may store various parameters used in the event-drivencompensation routine. Parameters stored by parameter storage module 122may include steady-state temperature gains (e.g., in units of ° F. or °C.) associated with each of the detectable controller events. Forexample, parameter storage module 122 may store a temperature gainassociated with activating LCD display 138 (“LCD Gain”), a temperaturegain associated with illuminating backlight 136 at full brightness orany of the intermediate brightness levels (“Backlight Gain”), atemperature gain associated with activating each of relays 128 andtriacs 130 (“Relay Gain”), and/or any other temperature gains thatcorrespond to any of the detectable controller events. Parameter storagemodule 122 may store a sampling period parameter (“T_(s)”) indicating atime between consecutive temperature measurements.

Parameter storage module 122 may store a correction factor α used in theevent-driven compensation routine. The correction factor α may representthe heat rise within housing 100 resulting from any of the detectablecontroller events and may be a function of the thermal properties ofzone controller 14 (e.g., thermal resistance, heat capacity, etc.). Invarious embodiments, the correction factor α and the temperature gainsmay be received from an external data source or determined empirically.For example, the correction factor α may be determined empirically byplacing zone controller 14 into a controlled-temperature environment(e.g., a psychometric chamber), allowing the temperature measured bytemperature sensor 102 to stabilize with backlight 136 turned off,stepping backlight 136 to full brightness, and measuring the increase intemperature caused by illuminating backlight 136. The same correctionfactor α may be used for each of the detectable controller events.Differences in the amount of heat generated by each controller event maybe indicated by the temperature gains associated with each controllerevent. As shown in FIG. 3, parameter storage module 122 may provide theevent gains, the sampling period parameter T_(s) and the correctionfactor α to temperature compensation module 116 for use in theevent-driven compensation routine.

Still referring to FIG. 3, memory 112 is shown to include a temperaturecompensation module 116 (i.e., a temperature compensator). Temperaturecompensation module 116 may perform an event-driven temperaturecompensation routine to calculate an error in the temperature measuredby temperature sensor 102 (i.e., a temperature offset) resulting fromthe heat generated within housing 100. Temperature compensation module116 may subtract the temperature offset from the measured temperature todetermine a compensated temperature representing the actual ambienttemperature of building zone 12.

Temperature compensation module 116 may receive the measured temperaturefrom sensor input module 114, the detected controller events fromcontroller event detector 118, and the event gains and other parametersfrom parameter storage module 122. Temperature compensation module 116may multiply each of the detected controller events by the event gainassociated with the controller event. Temperature compensation module116 may sum the event gains associated with the detected controllerevents to calculate a heat rise resulting from the detected controllerevents.

In some embodiments, temperature compensation module 116 includes atemperature compensation filter. The temperature compensation filter maybe a first order low pass filter which models the heat rise withinhousing 100 using a first order transfer function. Temperaturecompensation module 116 may provide the heat rise resulting from thedetected controller events as an input to the temperature compensationfilter. The temperature compensation filter may output the temperatureoffset as a function of the heat rise resulting from the detectedcontroller events, the correction factor α, and the sampling periodparameter T_(s). The event-driven compensation routine and thetemperature-compensation filter are described in greater detail withreference to FIG. 4.

Still referring to FIG. 3, memory 112 is shown to include a humiditycompensation module 120 (i.e., a humidity compensator). Humiditycompensation module 120 may receive the measured humidity from sensorinput module 114. The measured humidity represents the relative humiditymeasured by humidity sensor 104, which is the relative humidity withinhousing 100. The air inside housing 100 and outside housing 100 may havethe same moisture content; however, since the temperature within housing100 is greater than the ambient temperature of building zone 12 outsidehousing 100, the measured relative humidity within housing 100 may belower than the actual relative humidity of the air outside housing 100due to the greater moisture capacity of warmer air.

Humidity compensation module 120 may be configured to perform a humiditycompensation routine to calculate the relative humidity of the air inbuilding zone 12 outside housing 100. The humidity compensation routinemay include determining the dew point of the air within housing 100 as afunction of the measured temperature and the measured relative humidity.Since the air inside housing 100 and the air outside housing 100 havethe same moisture content, the dew point of the air outside housing 100may be the same as the dew point of the air inside housing 100. Humiditycompensation module 120 may receive the compensated temperature fromtemperature compensation module 116. The compensated temperaturerepresents the actual temperature of the air outside housing 100.Advantageously, humidity compensation module 120 may use the compensatedtemperature and the dew point of the air outside housing 100 tocalculate a compensated humidity representing the actual relativehumidity of the air in building zone 12 outside housing 100. Thehumidity compensation routine is described in greater detail withreference to FIG. 5.

Still referring to FIG. 3, memory 112 is shown to include a controloutput module 124 (i.e., a control output handler). Control outputmodule 124 is shown receiving the compensated temperature fromtemperature compensation module 116 and the compensated humidity fromhumidity compensation module 120. Control output module 124 may use thecompensated temperature and the compensated humidity to determineappropriate control actions for HVAC system 20. In some embodiments,control output module 124 provides a control signal to HVAC system 20via communications interface 132. Control output module 124 may activateor deactivate control outputs 126 (i.e., relays 128 and triacs 130) toprovide the control signal to communications interface 132.

Control output module 124 may use any of a variety of control algorithms(e.g., state-based algorithms, extremum-seeking control algorithms, PIDcontrol algorithms, model predictive control algorithms, feedbackcontrol algorithms, etc.) to determine appropriate control actions forthe controllable devices of HVAC system 20 (e.g., chiller 22, boiler 24,valves 94-96, actuators 60-64, actuators 97-99, cooling coil 82, heatingcoil 84, etc.) as a function of the compensated temperature and/or thecompensated humidity. For example, if the compensated temperature isabove the temperature set point, control output module 124 may determinethat cooling coil 82 and/or fan 86 should be activated to decrease thetemperature of the supply air 44 delivered to building zone 12.Similarly, if the compensated temperature is below the temperature setpoint, control output module 124 may determine that heating coil 84and/or fan 86 should be activated to increase the temperature of thesupply air 44 delivered to building zone 12. Control output module 124may determine that a humidification or dehumidification component ofHVAC system 20 should be activated or deactivated to control thecompensated relative humidity to a humidity set point for building zone12.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram illustrating temperaturecompensation module 116 in greater detail is shown, according to anexemplary embodiment. Temperature compensation module 116 can receivedetected controller events from controller event detector 118. In FIG.4, the detected controller events are shown to include the status ofeach of relays 128 (i.e., “Relay 1 Status,” “Relay 2 Status,” . . .“Relay N Status”), the status of LCD display 138 (i.e., “LCD Status”),and the level of backlight 136 (i.e., “Backlight Level”). The status ofeach relay may indicate whether the relay is currently on or off. TheLCD status can indicate whether LCD display is currently on or off(e.g., 1 for on, 0 for off). The backlight level can indicate thebrightness at which backlight 136 is currently illuminated (e.g., on ascale from 1-10, a percentage of the maximum illumination, etc.).

Temperature compensation module 116 can receive various gain parametersfrom parameter storage module 122. In FIG. 4, the received gainparameters are shown to include a “Relay Gain” parameter for each of theactive relays, a “LCD Gain” parameter for LCD display 138, and a“Backlight Gain” parameter for backlight 136. Temperature compensationmodule 116 may receive a gain parameter for each of the detectedcontroller events. Temperature compensation module 116 can also receivethe correction factor α and the sampling period parameter T_(s) fromparameter storage module 122 and the measured temperature from sensorinput module 114 in some embodiments.

Still referring to FIG. 4, temperature compensation module 116 is shownto include a relay status summation block 150. Block 150 may sum thetotal number of active relays to generate an output 164 (i.e., “SumActive Relays”) indicating the total number of relays that are currentlyactive. The output 164 indicating the total number of active relays canbe multiplied by the “Relay Gain” parameter at multiplication block 152to generate a “Relay Heat Rise” output 166 in some embodiments. Output166 may indicate the heat rise resulting from the operation of relays128 in some embodiments.

Similarly, temperature compensation module 116 may multiply the “LCDGain” parameter by the LCD status variable (e.g., 0 for off, 1 for on)at multiplication block 154 to generate a “LCD Heat Rise” output 168.Output 168 may indicate the heat rise resulting from the operation ofLCD display 138. Temperature compensation module 116 may multiply the“Backlight Gain” parameter by the “Backlight Level” variable (e.g., apercentage or ratio of the maximum illumination of backlight 136) atmultiplication block 156 to generate a “Backlight Heat Rise” output 170.Output 170 may indicate the heat rise resulting from the operation ofbacklight 136.

Temperature compensation module 116 may sum the component-specific heatrise outputs 166-170 at summation block 158 to generate a “Sum HeatRise” output 172. Output 172 represents the total heat rise resultingfrom the operation of the various heat-generating components withinhousing 100. Advantageously, calculating the total heat rise in thismanner allows temperature compensation module 116 to separately accountfor the heat produced by each individual heat-generating componentwithin housing 100. If a component is not currently active (i.e., notgenerating heat), the component may be excluded from the heat risecalculation. Output 172 may be provided as an input to temperaturecompensation filter 160.

Still referring to FIG. 4, temperature compensation module 116 is shownto include a temperature compensation filter 160. Temperaturecompensation filter 160 may be a first order low pass filter whichmodels the heat rise within housing 100 (i.e., the temperature gainresulting from the individual heat-generating components) using a firstorder transfer function. For example, the heat rise within housing 100can be modeled using the Laplace domain transfer function:

${H(s)} = \frac{1}{\propto {s + 1}}$

where ∝ is the heat rise correction factor as previously described(i.e., the temperature gain resulting from a component-specificheat-generating event within housing 100), s is the continuous-timedomain filter variable, and H(s) is a ratio of the filter output to thefilter input (i.e., H(s)=Y(s)/X(s)).

The transfer function H(s) can be discretized into the z-domain (i.e.,the discrete-time domain) using a bilinear transform to substitute

$\frac{2}{T_{s}}\frac{z - 1}{z + 1}$

for s in the Laplace domain transfer function as shown below:

${H(z)} = {{H\left( {\frac{2}{T_{s}}\frac{z - 1}{z + 1}} \right)} = \frac{1}{\propto {\left( {\frac{2}{T_{s}}\frac{z - 1}{z + 1}} \right) + 1}}}$

where T_(s) is a time parameter representing the sampling period (i.e.,the time between temperature measurements) as previously described. Theparameter T_(s) may also represent the time that has elapsed sincetemperature compensation filter 160 has last calculated the temperatureoffset (i.e., the filter execution period). The discrete-time domaintransfer function H(z) can be rewritten as:

${H(z)} = \frac{z + 1}{{\left( {\frac{2 \propto}{T_{s}} + 1} \right)z} + \left( {1 - \frac{2 \propto}{T_{s}}} \right)}$

as shown in FIG. 4.

Temperature compensation filter 160 can use the discrete-time transferfunction H(z) to calculate the temperature offset 174 in someembodiments. For example, the discrete-time transfer function H(z) canbe rewritten as a digital filter in casual form as:

${H(z)} = {\frac{Y(z)}{X(z)} = \frac{1 + z^{- 1}}{\left( {\frac{2 \propto}{T_{s}} + 1} \right) + {\left( {1 - \frac{2 \propto}{T_{s}}} \right)z^{- 1}}}}$

where the coefficients in the denominator a_(k) are the feed-backwardcoefficients and the coefficients in the numerator b_(k) are thefeed-forward coefficients of the digital filter.

Rearranging the terms of the preceding equation yields:

${{Y(z)}\left( {\left( {\frac{2 \propto}{T_{s}} + 1} \right) + {\left( {1 - \frac{2 \propto}{T_{s}}} \right)z^{- 1}}} \right)} = {{X(z)}\left( {1 + z^{- 1}} \right)}$

and taking the inverse z-transform of this equation yields:

${{\left( {\frac{2 \propto}{T_{s}} + 1} \right)y_{n}} + {\left( {1 - \frac{2 \propto}{T_{s}}} \right)y_{n - 1}}} = {x_{n} + x_{n - 1}}$

which can be rewritten as:

$y_{n} = {{\left( \frac{2 \propto {- T_{s}}}{2 \propto {+ T_{s}}} \right)y_{n - 1}} + \frac{x_{n} + x_{n - 1}}{\left( {\frac{2 \propto}{T_{s}} - 1} \right)}}$

where y_(n) is the output of the filter at time n, y_(n-1) is theprevious filter output (i.e., at time n−1), x_(n) is the input to thefilter at time n and x_(n-1) is the input to the filter at time n−1.

In the preceding equation, the output y_(n) represents the differencebetween the temperature measured by temperature sensor 102 and theactual ambient temperature of building zone 12 (i.e., temperature offset174). The variable y_(n-1) may be provided to temperature compensationfilter 160 as a persisted offset to allow temperature compensationfilter 160 to account for any heat that has previously been generatedwithin housing 100. The inputs x_(n) and x_(n-1) represent thecontroller events that generate heat within housing 100 and contributeto the temperature offset 174. For example, input x_(n) may bedetermined by summing all of the heat-generating events that occurwithin housing 100 between time n−1 and time n (i.e., the eventsdetected by controller event detector 118) multiplied by theirsteady-state temperature gains, as described with reference tocomponents 150-158. The sum of the heat-generating events (i.e., the“Sum Heat Rise” variable calculated by summation block 158) may beprovided to temperature compensation filter 160 and used as input x_(n).

Still referring to FIG. 4, temperature compensation module 116 is shownto include a subtractor block 162. Subtractor block 162 may receive thetemperature offset 174 from temperature compensation filter 160 and themeasured temperature from sensor input module 114. Subtractor block 162may subtract the temperature offset 174 (i.e., the variable y_(n)) fromthe measured temperature to calculate the actual ambient temperature ofbuilding zone 12 (i.e., the compensated temperature).

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5B, block diagrams illustrating temperaturecompensation module 120 in greater detail are shown, according tovarious exemplary embodiments. In FIG. 5A, humidity compensation module120 is shown receiving the measured temperature and the measuredhumidity from sensor input module 114. The measured humidity representsthe relative humidity measured by humidity sensor 104, which is therelative humidity within housing 100.

Humidity compensation module 120 is shown to include a dew pointcalculator 176. Dew point calculator 176 may be configured to calculatethe dew point of the air inside housing 100 as a function of themeasured temperature and the measured relative humidity (e.g., usingpsychometrics). Dew point calculator 176 provides the calculated dewpoint of the air inside housing 100 to a relative humidity calculator178. Since the air inside housing 100 and the air outside housing 100have the same moisture content, the dew point of the air outside housing100 may be the same as the dew point of the air inside housing 100.

Relative humidity calculator 178 receives the calculated dew point ofthe air inside housing 100 from dew point calculator 176 and thecompensated temperature from temperature compensation module 116. Thecompensated temperature represents the temperature of the air withinbuilding zone 12 outside housing 100. Advantageously, humiditycompensation module 120 may use the compensated temperature and the dewpoint of the air inside housing 100 (which is the same as the dew pointof the air outside housing 100) to calculate a compensated humidityrepresenting the actual relative humidity of the air in building zone 12outside housing 100.

In FIG. 5B, an alternative embodiment is shown in which humiditycompensation module 120 receives only the measured humidity from sensorinput module 114. In FIG. 5B, humidity compensation module 120 is shownto include a summation block 180 which receives both the compensatedtemperature and the temperature offset from temperature compensationmodule 116 according to some embodiments. The temperature offsetrepresents the difference between the measured temperature (i.e., thetemperature inside housing 100) and the compensated temperature (i.e.,temperature offset=measured temperature−compensated temperature).Summation block 180 can add the temperature offset to the compensatedtemperature to determine the temperature inside housing 100 in someembodiments. The temperature inside housing 100 calculated by summationblock 180 may be provided to dew point calculator 176 and used inconjunction with the measured humidity to calculate the dew point of theair inside housing 100 in some embodiments. The humidity compensationroutine then proceeds as described with reference to FIG. 5A.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a flowchart of a flow 600 for compensating forthe heat generated within a HVAC controller is shown, according to someembodiments. In various embodiments, flow 600 may be performed by zonecontroller 14 or a controller that receives inputs from zone controller14 (e.g., AHU controller 70, supervisory controller 72, etc.). Flow 600may be an event-driven compensation process and may be used to determinethe actual ambient temperature of a building zone 12 in which zonecontroller 14 is located. Advantageously, flow 600 allows the HVACcontroller to determine a temperature offset based on the particularcontroller events that generate heat within the HVAC controller. Eachcontroller event can be independently included or not included in theambient temperature determination based on whether the controller eventis detected. Using controller events in this manner allows the HVACcontroller to calculate the temperature offset with greater granularityand accuracy relative to traditional heat rise calculations that onlyconsider the amount of time since the controller (as a whole) waspowered on.

Flow 600 is shown to include measuring a temperature within a HVACcontroller (step 602). Step 602 may be performed by a temperature sensor(e.g., temperature sensor 102) located within a housing of the HVACcontroller. The HVAC controller may be positioned within a buildingzone. For example, the HVAC controller may be a wall-mounted thermostatand/or humidistat configured to measure and control the temperatureand/or humidity of the building zone. The temperature measured in step602 may be higher than the actual ambient temperature of the buildingzone due to the heat generated internally within the HVAC controller.

Flow 600 is shown to include identifying one or more heat-generatingcomponents within the HVAC controller (step 604) and detectingcontroller events associated with the heat-generating components (step606). Heat-generating components may include, for example, a powersupply, a LCD display, a backlight for the LCD display, control outputssuch as relays and triacs, a processor, and/or any other component thatgenerates heat within the HVAC controller when the component is used.Controller events associated with the heat-generating components mayinclude, for example, activating the LCD display, illuminating thebacklight, providing control outputs via the relays and triacs,activating the power supply, using the processor, and/or any otheraction or event that generates heat within the HVAC controller. Thecontroller events may be a function of the brightness of the backlight,whether the LCD display is currently active, and/or whether a controlsignal is currently being provided to the HVAC system via the controloutputs. In some embodiments, step 606 is performed by controller eventdetector 118, as described with reference to FIG. 3.

Still referring to FIG. 6, flow 600 is shown to include identifying asteady-state temperature gain associated with each of the detectedcontroller events (step 608). The steady-state temperature gains may bestored in a memory module of the HVAC controller (e.g., parameterstorage module 122) or retrieved from an external data source. In someembodiments, each of the detected or detectable controller events isassociated with a steady-state temperature gain. For example, thesteady-state temperature gains may include a temperature gain associatedwith activating the LCD display (“LCD Gain”), a temperature gainassociated with illuminating the backlight at full brightness or any ofthe intermediate brightness levels (“Backlight Gain”), a temperaturegain associated with activating each of the relays and triacs (“RelayGain”), and/or any other temperature gains that correspond to any of thedetectable controller events. Each temperature gain may correspond to atemperature increase resulting from the associated controller event.Differences in the amount of heat generated by each controller event maybe indicated by the temperature gains associated with each controllerevent.

Flow 600 is shown to include calculating a temperature offset using asummation of the identified steady-state temperature gains (step 610).In some embodiments, step 610 is performed by temperature compensationmodule 116, as described with reference to FIGS. 3-4. Step 610 mayinclude receiving the temperature measured in step 602, the controllerevents detected in step 606, and the temperature gains identified instep 608. Step 610 may include multiplying each of the detectedcontroller events by the event gain associated with the controllerevent. In some embodiments, step 610 includes summing the event gainsassociated with the detected controller events to calculate a heat riseresulting from the detected controller events.

In some embodiments, step 610 includes a temperature compensation filterto calculate the temperature offset. The temperature compensation filtermay be a first order low pass filter which models the heat rise withinthe HVAC controller using a first order transfer function. Step 610 mayinclude providing the heat rise resulting from the detected controllerevents as an input to the temperature compensation filter. Thetemperature compensation filter may output the temperature offset as afunction of the heat rise resulting from the detected controller events,the correction factor α, and the sampling period parameter T_(s), asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 3-4.

Flow 600 is shown to include determining a temperature outside the HVACcontroller by subtracting the temperature offset from the temperaturemeasured within the HVAC controller (step 612). The temperature outsidethe HVAC controller may be a compensated temperature representing theambient temperature of the building zone in which the controller islocated. The compensated temperature may be used for any of a variety ofcontrol applications such as generating a control signal for the HVACsystem based on a difference between the compensated temperature and atemperature set point. In some embodiments, the compensated temperatureis used to calculate the relative humidity outside the HVAC controller,as described with reference to FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a flowchart of a flow 700 for determining therelative humidity of a building zone using a compensated zonetemperature is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. In variousembodiments, flow 700 may be performed by zone controller 14 or acontroller that receives inputs from zone controller 14 (e.g., AHUcontroller 70, supervisory controller 72, etc.). Flow 700 may beperformed subsequent to flow 600 and may use one or more of thevariables calculated by flow 600 (e.g., the compensated temperature, thetemperature offset, etc.).

Flow 700 is shown to include measuring a relative humidity within a HVACcontroller (step 702) and measuring a temperature within the HVACcontroller (step 704). The HVAC controller may be positioned within abuilding zone. For example, the HVAC controller may be a wall-mountedthermostat and/or humidistat configured to measure and control thetemperature and/or humidity of the building zone. The temperaturemeasured in step 704 may be higher than the actual ambient temperatureof the building zone due to the heat generated internally within theHVAC controller. The air inside the HVAC controller and outside the HVACcontroller may have the same moisture content; however, since thetemperature within the HVAC controller is greater than the ambienttemperature of the building zone, the measured relative humidity withinthe HVAC controller may be lower than the actual relative humidity ofthe air outside the HVAC controller due to the greater moisture capacityof warmer air.

Still referring to FIG. 7, flow 700 is shown to include calculating adew point within the HVAC controller using the measured temperature andthe measured humidity (step 706) and identifying a temperature outsidethe HVAC controller (step 708). Step 706 may include using psychometricsto determine the actual dew point of the warmer air within the HVACcontroller using the temperature and humidity measured in steps 702-704.Step 708 may include receiving the compensated temperature fromtemperature compensation module 116 and/or flow 600. The compensatedtemperature represents the actual temperature of the outside the HVACcontroller.

Flow 700 is shown to include calculating a relative humidity outside theHVAC controller using the identified temperature outside the HVACcontroller and the calculated dew point (step 710). Step 710 may includeusing psychometrics to determine the actual relative humidity of thecooler air outside the HVAC controller using the temperature identifiedin step 708 and the dew point calculated in step 706. Since the airinside the HVAC controller and the air outside the HVAC controller havethe same moisture content, the dew point of the air outside the HVACcontroller may be the same as the dew point of the air inside the HVACcontroller. Thus, the dew point calculated in step 706 may be used as aninput to step 710 to calculate the relative humidity outside thecontroller.

The construction and arrangement of the systems and methods as shown inthe various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only afew embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, manymodifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions,structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values ofparameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors,orientations, etc.). For example, the position of elements may bereversed or otherwise varied and the nature or number of discreteelements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of thepresent disclosure. The order or sequence of any process or method stepsmay be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be madein the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplaryembodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure contemplates methods, systems and programproducts on any machine-readable media for accomplishing variousoperations. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implementedusing existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computerprocessor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or anotherpurpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of thepresent disclosure include program products comprising machine-readablemedia for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or datastructures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be anyavailable media that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example,such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROMor other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or storedesired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions ordata structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose orspecial purpose computer or other machine with a processor. Wheninformation is transferred or provided over a network or anothercommunications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combinationof hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views theconnection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such connection isproperly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above arealso included within the scope of machine-readable media.Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function orgroup of functions.

Although the figures show a specific order of method steps, the order ofthe steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps maybe performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variationwill depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designerchoice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure.Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standardprogramming techniques with rule based logic and other logic toaccomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparisonsteps and decision steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A HVAC controller located within a housing fordisposition in a building zone, the controller comprising: one or moreheat-generating components contained within the housing, theheat-generating components causing a temperature inside the housing toexceed a temperature of the building zone outside the housing; atemperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of the buildingzone inside the housing; a controller event detector configured todetect, for each of the heat-generating components, a controller eventthat generates heat inside the housing; and a temperature compensationmodule configured to identify a steady-state temperature gain associatedwith each of the detected controller events, to calculate a temperatureoffset using a summation of the steady-state temperature gains, and todetermine the temperature of the building zone outside the housing bysubtracting the temperature offset from the temperature measured insidethe housing.
 2. The controller of claim 1, wherein: the heat-generatingcomponents comprise an electronic display; and the detected controllerevents comprise an indication of whether the electronic display iscurrently active.
 3. The controller of claim 1, wherein: theheat-generating components comprise a backlight for an electronicdisplay, wherein the backlight is configured to illuminate at multipledifferent illumination levels; and the detected controller eventscomprise an indication of a current illumination level of the backlight.4. The controller of claim 1, wherein: the heat-generating componentscomprise a plurality of relays configured to provide a control output;and the detected controller events comprise an indication of a which ofthe relays are currently active.
 5. The controller of claim 1, furthercomprising: a parameter storage module that stores the steady-statetemperature gains associated with the heat-generating components;wherein each of the steady-state temperature gains indicates an increasein temperature inside the housing when the associated heat-generatingcomponent is active relative to a temperature inside the housing whenthe associated heat-generating component is inactive.
 6. The controllerof claim 1, wherein: the temperature compensation module comprises atemperature compensation filter that uses a first order low passtransfer function to calculate the temperature offset; and the summationof the steady-state temperature gains is provided as an input to thetemperature compensation filter.
 7. The controller of claim 6, wherein:the temperature compensation filter uses an empirically-determinedcorrection factor to calculate the temperature offset; and thecorrection factor is dependent upon one or more heat transfer propertiesof the controller.
 8. The controller of claim 6, wherein the temperaturecompensation filter is a discrete-time digital filter that outputs thetemperature offset as a function of a previous temperature offset andthe steady-state temperature gains associated with detected controllerevents that occur after the previous temperature offset is calculated.9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the temperature compensationmodule is configured to: store the temperature offset upon powering offthe controller; and use the stored temperature offset as the previoustemperature offset in the temperature compensation filter when thecontroller is powered on.
 10. The controller of claim 9, wherein uponpowering on the controller, the temperature compensation module isconfigured to: determine whether the controller has been powered off fora time period exceeding a threshold; use the stored temperature offsetas the previous temperature offset in the temperature compensationfilter if the controller has been powered off for a time period thatdoes not exceed the threshold; and reset the previous temperature offsetto zero if the controller has been powered off for a time period thatexceeds the threshold.
 11. The controller of claim 1, furthercomprising: a humidity sensor configured to measure a relative humidityof the building zone inside the housing; and a humidity compensationmodule configured to calculate a dew point of air inside the housingusing the relative humidity inside the housing; wherein the humiditycompensation module is further configured to use the calculated dewpoint and the calculated temperature of the building zone outside thehousing to determine a relative humidity of the building zone outsidethe housing.
 12. The controller of claim 11, wherein the humiditycompensation module: receives the temperature of the building zonemeasured inside the housing from the temperature compensation module;and calculates the dew point of the air inside the housing using therelative humidity of the building zone inside the housing andtemperature of the building zone measured inside the housing.
 13. Thecontroller of claim 11, wherein the humidity compensation module:receives the temperature offset calculated by the temperaturecompensation module; adds the temperature offset to the calculatedtemperature of the building zone outside the housing to estimate thetemperature of the building zone inside the housing; and calculates thedew point of the air inside the housing using the relative humidity ofthe building zone inside the housing and estimated temperature of thebuilding zone inside the housing.
 14. A controller for a HVAC system,the controller comprising: a communications interface that receives,from an electronic device located within a building zone, a temperaturemeasured within a housing of the electronic device, wherein the measuredtemperature is greater than an actual ambient temperature of thebuilding zone due to heat-generating components within the housing ofthe electronic device; and an event detector configured to detect, foreach of the heat-generating components, an event that generates heatinside the housing of the electronic device; and a temperaturecompensation module configured to identify a steady-state temperaturegain associated with each of the detected events, to calculate atemperature offset using a summation of the steady-state temperaturegains, and to determine the temperature of the building zone outside thehousing by subtracting the temperature offset from the temperaturemeasured inside the housing.
 15. The controller of claim 14, wherein:the heat-generating components comprise at least one of an electronicdisplay, a backlight for the electronic display, and a plurality ofrelays configured to provide an output from the electronic device; andthe detected controller events comprise at least one of indication ofwhether the electronic display is currently active, a currentillumination level of the backlight, and an indication of a which of therelays are currently active.
 16. The controller of claim 14, whereineach of the steady-state temperature gains indicates an increase intemperature inside the housing when the associated heat-generatingcomponent is active relative to a temperature inside the housing whenthe associated heat-generating component is inactive.
 17. The controllerof claim 14, wherein: the temperature compensation module comprises atemperature compensation filter that uses a first order low passtransfer function to calculate the temperature offset; and the summationof the steady-state temperature gains is provided as an input to thetemperature compensation filter.
 18. A HVAC controller located within abuilding zone, the controller comprising: a housing; one or moreheat-generating components contained within the housing, theheat-generating components causing a relative humidity inside thehousing to be less than a relative humidity of the building zone outsidethe housing; a humidity sensor configured to measure the relativehumidity of the building zone inside the housing; a temperature sensorconfigured to measure a temperature of the building zone inside thehousing; and a humidity compensation module configured to calculated adew point of the building zone inside the housing using the relativehumidity measured inside the housing and the temperature measured insidethe housing; wherein the humidity compensation module is configured toidentify a temperature of the building zone outside the housing and todetermine a relative humidity of the building zone outside the housingusing the identified temperature of the building zone outside thehousing and the calculated dew point.
 19. The controller of claim 18,further comprising: a controller event detector configured to detect,for each of the heat-generating components, a controller event thatgenerates heat inside the housing; and a temperature compensation moduleconfigured to identify a steady-state temperature gain associated witheach of the detected controller events, to calculate a temperatureoffset using a summation of the steady-state temperature gains, and todetermine the temperature of the building zone outside the housing bysubtracting the temperature offset from the temperature measured insidethe housing.
 20. The controller of claim 19, wherein: the temperaturecompensation module comprises a temperature compensation filter thatuses a first order low pass transfer function to calculate thetemperature offset; and the summation of the steady-state temperaturegains is provided as an input to the temperature compensation filter.